CAROLINE COUNTY, VA (WTVR) - Police have released the identity of the suspect in Thursday's deadly trooper-involved shooting on Interstate 95.
Sergeant Thomas Molnar said 32-year-old Herbert J. Wheeler Jr. of Chesterfield died at Mary Washington Hospital early Friday.
Sr. Trooper Michael H. Hamer is recovering from a gunshot wound to his leg at Mary Washington Hospital.
Officials said Wheeler approached a semi driver who was stopped on I-95 around the 118 mile marker in Spotsylvania County around 1:30 p.m.
When he was not able to get into the truck, Wheeler ran off into the woods.
Trooper Hamer responded and found Wheeler walking along the interstate at the 116 mile marker in Caroline County at 2:50 p.m.
Officials said once Wheeler was inside the trooper's car, a violent struggle ensued. When the suspect tried to take the trooper's gun, the weapon discharged and hit the trooper in the leg.
As the struggle continued, the trooper returned fire with another gun.
The injured tropper got out of his car and three good Samaritans stopped to help.
The man and two women helped the trooper, who was severely bleeding.
The Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Richmond Field Office and its Shooting Investigation Team are investigating the incident.
